Smith quits Malthouse

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Jill Smith, the indefatigable theatre administrator dedicated to
the cause of Playbox Theatre, is resigning after more than 25 years
with the company.

Her departure - to join Premier Steve Bracks' office - marks the
end of an era for Playbox. It began life as Hoopla in 1976 when
founded by Carrillo Gantner, Graeme Blundell and Garrie Hutchinson
with a strict charter to champion new Australian work.

As the company's general manager, Smith oversaw its rise from
its original home in Exhibition Street (which burnt down in 1984),
to its rebirth in 1990 at its extravagant theatre complex at the
CUB Malthouse in Southbank.

Working alongside artistic director Gantner and his successor,
Aubrey Mellor, Smith championed the work of playwrights including
David Williamson, Hannie Rayson, Joanna Murray-Smith, Jane
Harrison, Louis Nowra and Michael Gow. But perhaps her greatest
legacy is in the number of Playbox plays that continue to be
produced around the world, most notably Honour and
Stolen.

Smith's departure is the final passing of the baton that began
last year when the Playbox board, in response to dwindling
audiences, changed the company's name to Malthouse Theatre and
abandoned its only- Australian policy.

The new artistic director, Michael Kantor, appointed Stephen
Armstrong to the new role of executive producer. Smith was
unavailable for comment last night.